2008 national champions. No. 2 RPI a year ago. 2006-2007 Player of the year. Three lottery picks a year ago and five possible lottery picks this year, including possible top pick Michael Beasley. The Big 12 is becoming a basketball conference, and it is becoming more difficult to remain competitive. But it is also becoming a more alluring conference to NBA teams in draft time.
"I think the conference this year got a lot of love,"
Texas A&M Head Coach Mark Turgeon said. "We had the national champion, and I think a lot of people thought highly of us."
Kansas, where Turgeon played collegiately, won the NCAA tournament and will have star players like Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers expected to go in the first round. Texas' D.J. Augustin is also expected to be a lottery pick.
"Do we get the respect the Big East does, no. Do we get a little more respect than the Pac-10 because of where we're located, maybe,"
Turgeon said. "[Kevin] Durant and Beasley have done wonders for our league, and before this year, the Big 12 had never won the national championship in basketball. Hopefully we can continue to recruit at that level and maybe get one of those top-picks here at A&M."
Turgeon thought he was inheriting a lottery player in DeAndre Jordan when he came to A&M. And after integrating well with the team, firing an astronomical nonconference field goal percentage and throwing down numerous highlight reel dunks, it seemed that Jordan was on his way.
But in conference play the wiry Jordan had difficulties against the bigger bodies of the Big 12. His field goal percentage came back to earth, he missed important free throws and most importantly, the Aggies started losing games.
Most mock draft boards still had Jordan as a Top-10 pick until June, when his stock plummeted after team workouts. Turgeon said the draft is hard to predict and Jordan could still go high in the June 26 draft, but he would have helped himself staying another season.
"We'll see what happens,"
Turgeon said. "I think few people had seen DeAndre. It was more on potential, a 7-footer that could run. And then he had to go out and do some workouts, and maybe that's why he's slipping."
"But just because they say he's slipping doesn't mean he is. He's extremely talented and has a huge upside."
Turgeon said the dearth of international players in this year's draft would augur well for American players, including Joseph Jones, another Aggie. Jones' points and minutes dipped in his senior year, but Turgeon said that was because of A&M's depth. Jones still has the size and muscle NBA teams look for and he developed range in his shot, helping his draft stock.
"We're hoping for a second round pick for Joe,"
Turgeon said. "He had a great spring, early summer. He's taking care of his body, and he's had some good workouts. We're hoping he gets picked somewhere in the second so he has a chance to make a team. I think once people get to know Joe they'll appreciate what kind of a person he is, too."
Dominique Kirk, another senior, is not expected to be picked in the draft, but players recently have taken circuitous routes to the pros, including developmental leagues and European leagues. Turgeon said Kirk was definitely good enough to play somewhere professionally, and with offensive improvement could one day make an NBA roster.
"Dominique has to become a much better offensive player to hold his own at that level,"
he said. "But he is a defensive specialist. I probably won't completely realize that until I have to coach without him next year."
"There are a lot of guys that, if they do it right in camps and summer leagues, someone might pick them up. A lot is going to transpire over the next month or so."
Turgeon might have some NBA players on his squad now. He said Josh Carter, the lanky swingman with a deadly three-point touch, was smart for staying out of the draft. Bryan Davis, who has big-game potential, needs to expand his range.
Donald Sloan, who had flashes of spectacular moves and showed the ability to take over games, needs to become more consistent. Turgeon said he would be relying heavily on the three of them in 2008-2009, and that all of them could play at the next level.
However, he wanted to stress how difficult it is to reach the NBA.
"They're the most proven players,"
he said. "They are going to play for money one day. How much and where, we'll see, but they are all very talented. But it's just so hard to make it to that league. I hope they'll have a chance to do it."
